Constitutional Bill For Bunge

Mon, Nov 7th, 2011
Mon, Nov 7th, 2011| Tanzania

Tanzanian Bunge (Parliament) in Dodoma
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The fifth meeting of the National Assembly starts today in Dodoma with the much awaited Constitutional Amendment Bill expected to be tabled and debated.

If the Bill will be passed, it will pave the way for the President to form a commission that will collect views from Tanzanians and subsequently the Constitutional Assembly will be convened to enact the new constitution.

The commission will comprise of Chairman, Vice-Chairman and about 30 Commissioners from both parts of the Union and Zanzibar.

The new Bill stipulates that politicians, including members of parliament, Members of Zanzibar House of Representatives, Councillors, Security organs officers or anyone charged in court with offences related to ethics and losing trust, will not be nominated in the commission.

The Constitutional Assembly will comprise all Union MPs, all members of House of Representatives, ministers responsible for Constitution and Justice from Union and Zanzibar and Chief Justices from both sides of Union.

In addition, there will be 116 members who will be selected from Non Governmental Organisations, Religious organisations, political parties, Higher learning institutions and groups of people with special needs.

The Tanzania Electoral Commission and Zanzibar Electoral Commission will be tasked to supervise the Referendum to decide whether the country should have the new constitution or not.

Already some NGOs and political parties such as Chadema have opposed the new Bill saying the President has been given too much power.

Another proceeding expected to stimulate debate in the House is the presentation of the report by the Select Committee Chairman, Ramo Makani (Tunduru North), involving the Permanent Secretary with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Mr David Jairo.

Bunge statements issued over the weekend said the saga which allegedly involves the PS ordering all agencies under his ministry to contribute 50m/- each to facilitate the passing of the ministry's budget in July, will present its report.

The meeting is expected to kick off with swearing in of Dr Dalaly Kafumu, the new Igunga (CCM) MP and Mohammed Said Mohammed from Zanzibar.
Source Tanzania Daily News

Let we weight for their discussion but on my side there is no freedom to have new constitution. What they protect is the whims of president if we want to have the strong government let our government controlled and guided by parliament and not executive as you have said that the President has the power to form the commission because president can mention the people who can protect the whims of ruling party and himself as president.
The good constitution should be made by freedom of expression without restriction that people who curtail their power to the president are not required to discuss that power that is not freedom in my mind i create alot of question why people are voting if they dont have freedom to discuss the power of the person they vote to.